Part 4 of 6 featuring world premiere recordings of Louise Farrenc's piano works. Farrenc's piano compositions have been largely neglected until now, and this complete edition is long overdue. The numerous world premieres on this disc prove just that. Louise Farrenc was one of the most respected pianists, composers, and teachers on the Paris music scene of her time, earning the admiration of Robert Schumann. Her variation cycles are considered among the most important pieces she composed for piano. On this album, Farrenc draws inspiration from the celebrated bel canto operas of Bellini and Donizetti, as well as from popular melodies and dances heard in the fashionable salons of 19th-century Paris. Maria Stratigou continues her acclaimed exploration of Farrenc's complete works for piano. She studied at the Athens Conservatory, the Royal Conservatory of Scotland, and the Royal Northern College of Music, where she completed her dissertation "Performance Aspects of Louise Farrenc's Piano Etudes." She currently teaches performance at the University of Sheffield. Stratigou has lectured and performed at numerous international conferences on this subject. She has performed throughout Europe and has been honored with many prestigious awards.